The Itchen Navigation ceased trading in 1869 but a public right of way exists along its length from Mansbridge (Southampton) to The Wharf in Winchester. The path is restricted to pedestrians, so NO BICYCLES PLEASE.
The path is narrow in places and not very buggy friendly and as with any walk along a watercourse, children should be under constant supervision! The length of the Navigation is about 10 miles, although the footpath is slightly longer due to diversions, the most noticeable being that in the south where the route is extended by almost ½ a mile to pass under the M27 motorway.
Several caches already exist along parts of this route, and this series is designed to ‘fill the gaps’ and encourage people to walk the whole length of the path. The Navigation is silted up and dry in places, but the remains of locks and other structures still exist along its length. There are some beautiful views and the area is a haven for wildlife with evidence even of otter activity in places.
The caches are placed to minimise the need to diverge from the path and you are asked to respect the wildlife during your visit. The Wharf is now the home of a Winchester rowing club and North of here the water course only functioned to supply water to the navigation. Standing on the bridge you can see the navigation widens out at this point in order that the boats could be turned around. (A “winding hole”) This cache marks the Northern end of the series